Prospective association of depression and phobic anxiety with changes in telomere lengths over 11 years.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Although depression and anxiety have been associated with shorter telomeres in cross-sectional studies, the data regarding the prospective relations of depression and anxiety to accelerated telomere length shortening are limited and findings are mixed. We prospectively examined relations of baseline depression and phobic anxiety to subsequent 11-year change in relative leukocyte telomere lengths (LTLs). METHODS:We selected 1,250 women from a subcohort of the Nurses' Health Study who provided blood specimens at both blood collections (1989-1990 and 2000-2001). Depression was defined by self-reported regular antidepressant use or presence of severe depressive symptoms; anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Crown-Crisp Experiential Index. Using quantitative real-time polymerase

SUBMITTER: Chang SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6085135 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature